A 40 year Dream

A dream at the age of 7 becomes a reality 44 years later, when Dawn suggested we visit Managalore Airshow, where Vans Aircraft were releasing their quick-build RV-6.

The dream of a child was reawakened.

One year later the kit arrived. It was like Christmas, all these packages to open with exciting (toys) pieces to make my own aircraft.

Could I do it?

What a labour of love taking each piece and drilling and fitting each piece together to form a unit which in turn would form a complete section. So enjoyable.

Friday nights and weekends just would not come around quick enough and a planned hours work would go on to become 5 and midnight would arrive so quickly.

Four years after commencement, I knew the project was nearing completion when the parts to be worked on were diminished to just a few items.

It was now time to take it to the airport and assemble them into the completed aircraft. i chose a professional test pilot to teach it to fly.

After 20 minutes of testing and a ground check of systems, now it was my turn. We had a smooth take-off and climbed to 3500 feet, Dave my test pilot asked to take over the controls, I remember asking "What test are you going to do first?", when he proceeded to raise the nose and executed a nice roll.

That was it, the next day instead of conducting tests, I just had to try all the Aerobatic maneuvers i knew.

What a joy to fly.

it is now 2008 and 600 hours of trouble free flying to Darwin, Queensland and Central Australia. The most pleasurable flying is, formation flying with like minded people.

Having flown many aircraft types I have not found one that has the performance and sheer pleasure of getting up in the blue and flying to the limits of the aircraft.

It is still very exhilarating.
Ken Muston 30/4/08